Hot metal mixer



HOT METAL MIXER Filed July 23, 1945 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMES 1. HYZAND BTTORIVEYJ July 22, 1947. J. L. HYLAND HOT IETAL MIXER Filed July 25, 1945 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 INJENTOR. V JANE-5' L. HYLAND .HTTORNE Y6 July'22, 1947. J, HY AND' 2,424,535

HOT METAL MIXER Filed July 23, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I mv'uvron ANES L firm/v1) BY HTTORNFYS July 22, 1947. I

J. L. HYLAND HOT IETAL MIXER Filed July 2a, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mmv'rok 7A M56 1. 'HYLAMD I .BTTO RNE Y5 Nan k July 22, 1947. J. L. HYLAND 2,424,535

HOT METAL MIXER I Filgd July 23, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmvrox. JAMES L HYlA/VD Pa terson, 1941 PATENT OFFICE 2.424535 nor METAL mxnn James L. Hyland, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 2a, 1945, semi No. 606,627

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to. hot metal mixers and particularly to such mixers provided with means for cooling the lining thereof adjacent to the pouring-in-spout.

Hot metal mixers are used as reservoirs in which molten pig iron from several blast furnaces may be stored and mixed until it can be cast. Such mixers are usually cylindrical in shape with a pouring-in spout in one upper side segment and a pouring-out spout in the other upper side segment. These mixers comprise steel shells and refractory linings. The lining in the lower segment of the pouring-in spout side or the mixer is subjected to conditions which tend to erode or wear away the lining rapidly and non-uniformly.

When hot metal is poured thru an in-spout it strikes or quickly come into contact with the liner the lower segment of the mixer and highly heats and quickly and non-uniformly erodes and wears away that liner.

The problem 01' controlling the rate of uniformity of such erosion or wear has long been serious and various proposals have been made for solving it. However, so far as I know, no practical, commercially satisfactory and safe means has even been proposed for solving that problem, and no mixer has ever been used commercially which was provided with efllcient and safe means for cooling the liner of the in-spout side of a metal mixer.

The solution of the problem of controlling the rate and uniformity oi-erosion or wear and the temperature or that portion of a mixer liner is beset with great difficulties. Any cooling means d p sed outside of themixer shell has little or no eiiect on the liner withinthe shell; and all possibility of contact oithe cooling fluid, which for reasons of economy must be water, with the molten metal must be avoided because of the hazard to life and property which would result if the liquid were to come into contact with the molten metal.

That long standing problem has been solved by the present invention as extended and satisfactory commercial use has demonstrated. 'Stated briefly, the present invention solves that problem by selectively and controllably flowing a cooling liquid thru a plurality of separately controlled tubes in the lining of the in-spout side of the mixer and collecting the liquid discharged from said tubes in open-topped'drain troughs extending along the upper in-spout segment of the mixer from opposite sides of the in-spout.

The present invention will be better understood by those skilled in the art from the followin description and from the accompanying drawings which form a part or this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of hot metal mixer embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken on -line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view taken from the rlghthand end oi the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view taken from the leithand end of the' apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, top plan view, partly in section of theleithand in-spout and adjacent cooling means of Fig. 1; g

Figure 6 is an end view showing certain parts of Fi V sf! and 8am, respectively, side and front elevational views of one of the cooling fluid tubes of Fig. 1; and

a side elevational views of another one of the tubes of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows the present invention as embodied in a'hot metal mixer A which has two pouring-in spouts B and C and a single pouring-out spout D. However, it will be understood that the present invention is not restricted to mixers having two in-spouts, for it may also be used with only one iii-spouts The mixer of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a cylinder l which may be made by connecting arc-shaped metal plates together, and metal ends 2 constituting a shell, and refractory lining 3. The cylinder l is surrounded by axially spaced race rings 4 which are mounted on rollers 5, the latter being supported on races 6 which are mounted on foundations 1. Means 8 are provided for rotating the mixer about its longitudinal center line to and from its pouring-out spout.

The in-spouts B and C are provided with doors Ill pivoted as at H and connected to a cable l2 which serves to open the doors and to permit them to close. The in-spouts B and C are located in one upper 90". segment of the mixer on the opposite side of the vertical center plane from the pouring-out spout D which is disposed in the other upper segment of the mixer. It will be discharge molten metal thru spout D. At each Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, front and end of the mixer burner openings II are provided so that a combustible mixture may be admitted into and burned in the interior of the mixer over the molten metal to maintain it at a proper or any desired temperature.

As is indicated in Fig. 2, the lining l o! the mixer shell in its lower segment on the in-spout side is quite thick, ranging in some instances to as much as 30 inches or more. Molten metal is brought into the mixer, as by pouring it out of ladle l indicated in Fig. 2. This metal strikes directly against the lining in the upper and lower segments of the mixer when the amount of molten metal in the mixer is limited and with the liner of the upper segment when more metal is in the mixer and quickly comes into contact with the liner in both segments remote from the inspouts. The entering metal thus tends to erode or cut away the liner unequally and rapidly.

The mixer of Figs. 1 and 21s equipped with liner cooling means comprising a header 24, a

plurality of hairpin shaped cooling tubes 2|, and a plurality of open-topped drain troughs 22 and 24. Header is connected to and extends lengthwise along the in-spout side of mixer A, as is better shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and is equipped with a control valve which is connected thru suitable piping 26, including flexible hose 21 to a fixed pipe 28 which is connected to a source of cooling liquid. Each of the hairpin tubes 2| is connected at one end to header 20 thru a control valve 30, and each of these tubes has a discharge end opening into the open top of one of the adjacent draintroughs 22 or 24. The drain trough 22 discharges its cooling liquid into pipe 3| which, in turn, delivers the liquid into a fixed drain pipe 32. The drain trough 24 delivers its cooling liquid into a drain pipe 33 which, in turn, delivers the cooling liquid into a standpipe 34.

I The drain troughs 22 and 24 extend along the outside of the upper in-spout'segment of mixer A but at an elevation below the outer ends of the inspouts. Drain trough 22 extends from one end of'the mixer adjacentto in-spouts B thru one race 4 and to a point adjacent to the other race 4, while drain trough 24 extends from the end of a mixer to a point adjacent to in-spout B,

The valve 25 serves to shut .012 or regulate the amount of cooling liquid admitted into header 20, and the valves in each of the cooling tubes 2| similarly serve to shut off or regulate the amount of cooling liquid flowing from the header and thru each of these tubes. If desired, cooling liquid may be flowed thru all the tubes 2| at the same time, or by valves 30 thru only selected ones of those tubes, and the amount of liquid looped portions, which are disposed close to the normal bottom of the mixer, to their inlet and outlet ends which project out thru the shell at elevations below the in-spouts but above the header 2|l.

One of these tubes 2| ,-which is indicated at E in Figs. 1 and 5, is shown'in side and front elevation in Figs. '1 and 8. The tube of these fi res is connected at its inlet end 25 to header 20 thru valve II and pipe 2. Its outlet end 31 is connected to pipe 34 which extends below to the opposite side of in-spout B and has an outlet end positioned to discharge cooling liquid into the interior of drain trough 24 thru the opening in its top. Several other tubes 2| are provided with similar pipes, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 5. Another tube 2|, which is shown at F in Figs. 1 and 5. is connected at its inlet end to header 20 thru a valve II and pipe 4| and is connected at its outlet end to a vertical pipe 4| which discharges the cooling liquid therefrom into trough 24. Several other tubes are like tube F as will be seen in Fig. 1. It will be understood irom Figs. 5 and 10 inclusive that each hairpin tube 2| extends for nearly between the shell and liner of the mixer, that'the ends of the tube project thru the shell of the mixer and that one of these ends is connected to the header and th other is connected to suitable piping for delivery of liquid from the tube to drain troughs 22 or 24.

It will be noted that the drain trough 22 has a closed top beneath in-spout C and that neither trough 22 nor 24 has an open top beneath inspout B. Thus, there is little or no likelihood of molten metal falling from the ladle into either 01' these spouts, and such small amounts of molten metal as may flnd their way into the troughs are insumcient to create any substantial hazard. It will also be noted that the drain troughs 22 and 24 are cylindrical in cross-section and that their tops are cut away on a plane which is at such an angle to a vertical plane thru the longitudinal center line 01' the mixer that all the liquid which may be in the troughs when the mixer is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, will be retained therein when the mixer is rotated sufliciently to pour a portion of the molten metal from the mixer thru spout D. In other words, the troughs have lips at the upper sides of their top openings which retain and prevent escape of liquid thru that opening when the mixer is rotated to its pouring-out position. While the troughs illustrated are cylindrical, they may be of dliterent cross-sectional shapes including square, hexagonal and other shapes. Furthermore, the troughs 22 and 24 are located at such positions on the upper in-spout segment of the mixer that even it liquid should spill out of the troughs when metal is being po'uredthru outspout D, such liquid would flow away from inspouts -B and C. The shape of the troughs, the location oi their top openings, the position of the troughs relative to the mixer, and the further fact that the doors Ill of spouts B and C are normally closed during the pouring of metal out thru spout D, combine to insure that no cooling liquid from the troughs can enter the interior of the mixer. In this manner all danger of contact of cooling liquid from the troughs with molten metal in the mixer is avoided.

As will have been noted from the figures, the flow of liquid from each tube 2| is visible, for each tube discharges its coolingliquid thru space into its drain trough. Thus, the operator can see various tubes so as to obtain a greater cooling effect with some of the tubes than with others, or so as to maintain substantially uniform the temperature of the lining adjacent to several of or all the tubes. Also, he may shut on the fluid supply to some of the tubes if and when desired.

Since the life of the lining, particularly in thelower segment on the in-spout side of the mixer, is

dependent to some extent on the temperature of that part of the lining, the temperature may be controlled by the operator by proper manipulation of valves 30 on the several tubes II, In this manner the life of the liner is greatly prolonged and rapid erosion and wearing away of certain portions of the liner is avoided.

Furthermore, since the operator can see the flow 1 of liquid from the several pipes II 'at any. and

all times, he can instantly be apprized of any failure of any of the tubes, and can immediately stop the flow of water into all the tubes or into any one of them, as desired. Since the tubes are covered by a considerable depth of refractory, there .6 shell and extending circumferentially of 4. In a hot metalmixer including a cylindrical metal shell having upper and lower segments, a

pouring-in spout in an upper segment of the mixer, and a refractory lining in said segments, the combination of a plurality of cooling liquid tubes extending circumferentially of the mixer in said upper segment and in the segment therebelow and projecting thru said shell, means for conis little likelihood of any failure of the tubes .7

which would permit leakage of liquid into the mixer between the shell and its lining, but if any such leakagei does occur it can be promptly detected and danger incident to continued leakage avoided.

It will be seen that the present invention provides eflicient means of cooling that portion of the lining of a hot metal mixer which is subtrolling the admission of cooling liquid into said an tubes, and a drain trough disposed along the outside of said shell to receive cooling liquid discharged from the outlet ends of said tubes, said trough having a top opening defined in part by an upper lip capable of retaining liquid in the trough when the mixer is rotated to pouring-out position.

jected to the most severe operating conditions and that all hazards incident to itsuse have been avoided or made avoidable.

Mixers embodying the present invention have been in extended commercial use and havebeen found to be satisfactory from the safety standpoint and highly advantageous from the economy standpoint because of the greatly prolonged life and uniformity of erosion-and wear of that pertion of the liner which is subjected to the most severe conditions.

Having thus described. my invention so that others skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed. T 7

What is claimed is:

'1. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell having upper and lower segments, a pouring-in spout in said upper segment, and a refractory lining in said segments, the combination of a plurality of cooling fluid tubes extending circumferentially of the mixer in the lower segment and projecting out thru said shell in said upper segment, a valve controlled cooling fluid inlet header communicating with the inlet ends of said tubes thru control valves, and adrain trough disposed to receive cooling fluid discharged from the outlet ends of said tubes.

I thru separatecontrol valves, a cylindrical drain 2. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell, having upper and lower segments, a pouring-in spout in said upper segment, and a refractory lining in said segments, the combination of a plurality of cooling fluid tubes disposed adjacent tothe inner surface of said shell and extending circumferentialiy of the mixer in its lower segment on the in-spout side and out thru said shell in its upper in-spout segment, a valve controlled cooling fluid inlet header communicating with said tubes thru control valves, and a drain trough disposed to receive cooling fluid discharged from the outlet ends of said tubes.

3. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell having upper and lower segments, a pouring-in spout in an upper segment of the mixer, and a refractory lining in said segments. the combination of a plurality of separate cooling fluid tubes embedded in the liner adjacent to said] 5. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell having upper and lower segments, a

pouring-in spout in an upper segment of the mixer, and a refractory lining in said segments, the combination of a plurality of circumferentially extending, separate, hairpin shaped cooling fluid tubes adjacent to the inner surface of the shell and projecting out thru said shell, a valve controlled cooling fluid inlet header connected to said mixer and communicating with said tubes trough extending along said mixer at anelevation below that of said in-spout and having an opening in its top to receive cooling fluid discharged from the outlet ends of saidtubes.

8. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell, refractory lining therein and a pouring-in spout in an upper segment of the mixer, the combination of a plurality of separate cooling fluid tubes extending circumferentially of the shell adjacent to the inner surface thereof, separate valves for controlling admission of cooling fluid into said tubes and means for collecting means including a drain trough connected to and extending along, said mixer from a point below and at one side of said in-spout toward the ad- Jacent end of the mixer, said trough having an opening in its top remote from said in-spout to receive cooling fluid discharged from a, plurality of said tubes.

'I. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell, a refractory lining therein and a pouring-in spout in an upper segment of the mixer, the combination of a plurality of separate, circumferentially extending, loop shaped cooling fluid tubes embedded in the liner adjacent to the inner surface of said shell at elevations below that of said in-spout, a cooling fluid inlet header extending along and connected to saidv mixer below said in-spout and separately communicating with each of said tubes, and means for collecting liquid discharged from said tubes, said means including opentopped drain troughs connected to and extending along said mixer from points below and at opposite sides of said in-spout towards the ends of the mixer.

8. In a hot metal mixer including a cylindrical metal shell, a refractory lining therein and pouring-in spouts in an upper segment of the mixer,

the mixer in its upper and lower segments on the in-spout the outlet ends of fluid. discharged from said tubes, said collecting the combination of a plurality of hairpin shaped cooling liquid tubes embedded in the liner ad- -jacent to the shell extending circumferentially of the mixer in said upper segment and in the segment therebeiow and having inlet and outlet openings outside of the upper segment of the shell, a valve controlled cooling liquid inlet header connected to and extending along said mixer below said in-spouts and communicating with said tubes thru separate control valves, and cylindrical drain troughs connected to and extending along said mixer from points below and at opposite sides of one of said in-spouts toward the ends of the mixer and having openings in their tops remote from said in-spouts disposed to receive liquid discharged from the outlet ends of said tubes, said troughs having lips at their top openings shaped to retain liquid therein when the mixer is rotated to pouring-out position.

9. In combination with the apparatus of claim 1, a vertical fixeddrain pipe at one end of and in the vertical plane of the longitudinal centerline of said mixer, and piping connected to the adjacent 5 drain trough having an outlet end disposed over the top 01' said fixed drain pipe.

JAMES L. HYLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

